Rarest Army War Badges

[KBJensen]

German Sniper Badge.... Some people don't even think it exists...others claim to have an original in their collection.

Must be the rarest of rare!

[Tom Yanacek]

For just a basic-pattern Panzer Assault Badge, I think the die-forged, maker-marked Fritz Zimmermann badge is super rare. This is the only one I have ever seen. I wish that somebody could show me another example.

Best regards,
Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

maker mark:

[Tom Yanacek]

catch & hinge:

[Tom Yanacek]

oblique reverse:

[DAZZA3483]

Marc.

I think there are levels of rarity even within certain badge types. The army paratrooper badge is a good example of this. There are 10 different types, each (I believe) with a distinct level of rarity.

1 being the most rare.

1. .800 silver engraved (FIK version)
2. .800 silver engraved (FIB version)
3. .800 silver non engraved, FIB version (**I don't believe the FIK version was offered/sold as a non engraved option)
4. 1st pattern in aluminum (re-inforced talon)
5. 1st pattern in aluminum (cut out talon)
6. 1943 pattern in cloth
7. 2nd pattern in aluminum (maker marked)c
8. 1938 pattern in cloth
9. 2nd pattern in aluminum (not maker marked)
10. 1943 pattern in Feinzink

As with recent discovery,I wonder where the FLL HEER PARA numbers in this list?

[Viizei]

My good friend Ron asked me to post this known original 100 General Assault Badge for comparisons.


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Now thats a beauty. Rookie question: How do the numbered ones differ from the regular ones ? Or what do the numbers mean in this case ?

[RonR]

Now thats a beauty. Rookie question: How do the numbered ones differ from the regular ones ? Or what do the numbers mean in this case ?

From the net....

"The General Assault Badge was Introduced on June 1, 1940, by Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch, for award to support personnel who were ineligible for the Infantry or Panzer Assault badges.

Criteria for award of the badge was basically the same as the criteria for award of the Infantry and Panzer Assault badges with the main qualification being participation in three separate assaults in a supporting role.

On its introduction the badge was only intended for award to combat engineers and was designated, Pionier-Sturmabzeichen.

Shortly after its introduction bestowal of the badge was extended to other support personnel including artillery and assault gun personnel, anti-tank and anti-aircraft personnel and medical personnel.

Before the introduction of the Tank Destruction Strip in March 1942, personnel who had single handedly destroyed an enemy tank with Infantry weapons were awarded the General Assault Badge.

By 1943 it was realized that the General Assault Badge didn’t sufficiently recognize the number of assaults that the support personnel participated in which resulted in the introduction of four numbered Special Grade of the General Assault Badges on June 22, 1943.

The Special Grade badges followed the basic design of their predecessor but were larger, multi-piece construction awards, with the addition of a rectangular numbered plate to the bottom center of the wreath.

The Special Grade badges were issued with the numerals 25, 50, 75 and 100 to represent the ever-growing number of assaults participated in."

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Here is a comparison of the basic General Assault Badge, and the General Assault Badge for 100 assaults.........


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[Viizei]

Oh. I was thinking something like that.. Thank you for the info.

[Bono]

My vote BKA

[Kyle Harrington]

PAB JFS 75 from Italy 1944

Acquired by a British Tanker in Italy 1944 taken from recipient by an officer and stamped on along with other medals.The squaddie recovered the broken badge and fixed.I would love to know which unit the recipient was attached to

[Kyle Harrington]

Pab75

Pics

[Kyle Harrington]

Panzer 75

More Pics

[Kyle Harrington]

More pics

75 pab

[chrisje110]

Stunning piece !